Preece Family Tree

Dedication Of Memorial Screen

THE LATE ALDERMAN J. R. DEACON

THERE was a crowded congregation at St. Chad's Church, Lichfield, on Saturday afternoon for an impressive service of dedication of an oak screen which has been presented by Mrs. E. Deacon, in memory of her husband, Alderman Joseph Richard Deacon, J.P., in whose memory a fine eulogy was given by Prebendary H. S. Cresswell, M.A.

The ceremony of dedication was performed by the Dean (Dr. F. A. Iremonger).

The screen is a splendid example of the designer's art and carpenter's craftsmanship and is indeed a fine addition to the interior of the church. The screen is placed near the bell-chamber - one of the bells there being one of the very oldest in the country.

The Memorial, which is placed across the arch leading to the tower, takes the form of a Parclose Screen.

The main beam is carved to represent a number of the principal building trades, namely Carpentry, metal working, Stonemasonry, tiling, brick-laying, drain laying. In the centre is a panel portraying the Paschal Lamb.

Supporting the main beam are the figures of four Angels, each bearing a Coat of Arms, namely: The Province of Canterbury, The Diocese of Lichfield, The City and County of Lichfield, The National Federation of Building Trades' Employers.

The whole is surmounted by a statue of St. Chad, holding in the right hand a model of the Cathedral, and in the left hand a Bishop's Crosier.

In the centre of the Screen, a door gives access to the tower and ringing chamber, and on the door is the following inscription :-

"In loving memory of Joseph Richard Deacon, Builder, Alderman, and Justice of the Peace of the City and County of Lichfield. 1877-1942."

The theme of the Memorial is to portray his life interests: work, worship and citizenship.

OF ENGLISH OAK

The Screen is made of English oak, and has been designed by Mr. Holland W. Hobbiss, F.R.I.B.A.

The carving is the work of Mr. William Bloye, F.R.B.S., P.R.B.S.A.

The Memorial has been made and erected by J. R. Deacon, Ltd., the firm of which the late Alderman Deacon was the founder.

The Mayoress (Mrs. A. W. Handford) deputised for her mother, Mrs. Deacon, and was accompanied by the Mayor (Councillor A. W. Handford), Major T. J. R. (Theo) Deacon and Captain G. A. (Tony) Deacon, grandsons of the late Alderman Deacon; and Diana (daughter of the Mayor and Mayoress). There were present Mrs. M. J. Handford (mother of the Mayor), Mr. George Deacon (brother of the late Alderman Deacon) and Mrs. Deacon; Mr. and Mrs. George Deacon, Junr., and daughter; Mr. G. A. Knight (nephew), and Mrs. Knight, of Walsall; Mr. and Mrs. F. Boardman (of Messrs. Deacon and Boardman, Ltd., Walsall); Mr. and Mrs. Noel Boardman (Walsall).

Amongst the congregation were the Sheriff and his Lady (Counsillor and Mrs. F. W. Long); members of the City Council; Alderman L. G. Hall, C.C., Mr. and Mrs. E. Woolley, Mr. H. W. Shipley (architect); Mr. G. Burkes (Birmingham manager of the firm) and Mrs. Burkes; officials and employees of the firm.

For many years Alderman Deacon was a churchwarden at St. Chad's Church.

The hymns "O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace" and "Lead, Kindly Light" were sung, and subsequent ot the service of dedication "Now thank we all our God."

FINE EULOGY

Prebendary H. S. Cresswell referred to the absence through illness of the former Rector of S. Chat's (Mr. Coussmaker) and the Rector (the Rev. D. K. Robertson), and he was deputising in a sense for both.

Prebendary Cresswell said: "In this service of dedication of the screen we realise at once that there are two aspects of the dedication: the first that it is offered for the service of God and for the adornment of His house; the second that it ties the links with others we have both known and loved and lived among us with a kind of attachment with the Church they worshipped at and have supported.

"Many people coming into this church will look at that screen and see it a thing of beauty which it is - they see in it concentration of thought of the designer and execution of craftsmanship and the fine material of which it is made; they will go away thinking it is part of the fabric of this church; but to others who are here it is an unbroken link with a man who lived his life amongst us and was loved with a deep and abiding respect.

"Amongst the qualities which represent the Christian life in its fullness, St. Paul uses these three phrases: 'Not sloth in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.'

"I do not think in my long experience I have ever known a man to whom this first phrase could be so strictly applied. I had known him for the greater part of my own life, 40 years or more, he was one of the first men I met in this city. I shall not forget the kindness he extended to me on that occasion, a kindness which he maintained all through his life."

"His reputation for personal care and concentration upon the job in hand spread very quickly. He was reliable, material he used were selected with care and precision. He himself gave constant personal oversight to all the building entrusted to him, and when most men felt free to claim their leisure after working hours of the day he was to be found in that office in Lombard Street in the small hours of the morning, considering work of the next day, probably going through bills of quantities and specifications so that by his careful consideration and calculation he was able to undertake as his business extended contracts running into six figures. Of many things he has produced as a builder, perhaps one of the most attractive of the all and one which gave him personal pride was rebuilding the King Edward School in Birmingham, and I can well remember how he took me to the timber yard to see some of the prepared timber which was to be erected in the large assembly hall in that new school.

SCRUPULOUS CARE

"Nor was he without care to be scrupulous in all his transactions. One has never heard a breath of suggestion that any action of his was without complete integrity and honesty. But after all great as his attainments were as a business man it merely represents one phase of his character and life. It may have been a dominant part of his life - but it was perhaps the expression in practical form of what the man really was and for that we should have to look further and see the principle of his whole life.

A busy man as Joseph Richard Deacon was, he was among those who recognise the claims and responsibilities of the citizens and from the moment he was first urged to undertake public work in the city as a member of the Council, unto the day of his death, he never failed to give of his very best in the service of the community in which he lived. He was 'fervent in spirit' and in whatever he undertook whether in the public good, or whether, as I knew him so well, in so many instances of private philanthropy, he was 'fervent in spirit,' typical of the best Christian teaching.

"Then we turn to that which to me is most essential of them all. He was always conscious of God's claim upon him. He was indeed a God-fearing man. I have had many talks with him, both in his house and in his office and there was always borne in upon me, here is a man whose Christianity is not upon his sleeve.

"Here in this church he worshipped for the longest part of his stay in Lichfield. He often spoke to me of very happy memories of the parish of St. Mary's, when he attended that church."

At the conclusion of the service the hymn "For the beauty of the earth" was sung.

BEAUTIFUL PARCLOSE SCREEN PRESENTED TO ST. CHAD'S CHURCH

IN MEMORY OF THE LATE ALD, J. R. DEACON

THE memory of a former distinguished Lichfield citizen, the late Alderman Joseph Richard Deacon, was honoured at St. Chad's Church on Saturday afternoon, when a screen presented in his memory by his widow, Mrs. Evelyn Deacon, was dedicated. The dedication ceremony was performend by the Dean (Very Rev. F. A. Iremonger) and the service was conducted by the Vicar of St. Mary's (Preb. H. S. Cresswell) in the unavoidable absence, through illness, of the former Rector (Rev. R. de B. Coussmaker) and of the present Rector (Rev. D. K. Robertson).

The Theme of the Memorial

This memorial, which is placed across the arch leading to the tower, takes the form of a Parclose screen, and is made of English oak, having been designed by Mr. Holland W. Hobbiss, F.R.I.B.A., whilst the carving is the work of Mr. William Bloye, F.R.B.S., P.R.B.S.A. The workmanship was executed by the firm of J. R. Deacon, Ltd., of which the late Alderman was the founder. The theme of the memorial is to portray his life interests, work, worship and citizenship, and the main beam is carved to represent a number of the principal building trades, viz., carpentry, stone-masonry, bricklaying, metal working, tiling and drain laying. In the centre is a panel portraying the Pascal Lamb, and supporting the main beam are the figures of four Angels, each bearing a coat of arms, namely, the province of Canterbury, the diocese of Lichfield, the City and County of Lichfield and the National Federation of Building Trades Employers. The whole is surmounted by a statue of St. Chad holding in the right hand a model of the Cathedral and in the left hand a Bishop's crozier. In the centre of the screen, a door gives access to the tower and ringing chamber, and on the door is the following inscription: "In loving memory of Joseph Richard Deacon, Builder. Alderman and Justice of the Peace of the City and County of Lichfield. 1877-1942."

Relatives present included the Mayor and Mayoress (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. T. Deacon (grandson), Mr. A. Deacon (grandson), Mr. G. A. Knight (nephew), Mr. G. Deacon (brother) and Mrs. Deacon, Mr. G. Deacon jun. (nephew) and Mrs. Deacon. Others present in the church included Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Hall, Ald. Miss Thompson, Ald. F. M. Tayler, the Sheriff (Cllr. F. W. C. Long), and his Lady, the Town Clerk (Mr. H. J. Callender), Cllrs. F. W. L. Salloway, C. H. Craddock, F. T. Perry, E. Moore, J. Baker, Mrs. Parker, C. W. Bridgeman, A. Nevill and Mrs. Caswell, Mrs. Handford and Miss Handford, Mr. and Mrs. F. Boardman (Walsall), Mr. H. W. Shipley (Walsall), Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Hiskins, Mr. and Mrs. T. Oswald Moseley, Mr. and Mrs. T. Cope, Mr. H. Quantrill, Mr. G. Birch, Mr. and Mrs. D. Ivison, Mr. G. Burkes (manager of Birmingham branch), Mr. T. Biddulph and Mr. H. Biddulph (Burton-on-Trent), and many others.

Tribute to a God-fearing Man

A striking tribute to the late Alderman was paid in an address by Preb. Cresswell, who said in the service of dedication of that screen, in which they had been taking part, there were two aspects of a memorial. The first was that it was offered for service of God and for the adornment of His house, and the second was that it formed a link with those they had known and loved. Those who worshipped in that church would come and look at the screen and see a thing of beauty. There was the unbroken link of a man who lived amongst them and whom they loved with deep and abiding respect.

Continuing, Preb. Cresswell said among the many qualities to be represented in a Christian life in its fullness, St. Paul had said: "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." He (the speaker) did not think in his many experiences of business men, he had ever known a man to whom that phrase could be so strictly applied. He had known the late Alderman for forty years and was one of the first men he met in the city when he came there first, turning to him to help to solve what was then, and will be for many years, the problem of where he should live. He would not forget the kindness which deceased extended and the sympathy on that occasion. It was the sympathy and the kindness which he maintained all through his life. He came to Lichfield in quite a modest way and started quite a small business in Lombard Street, where the main part of the Lichfield works still was, and his reputation of pressing on and concentrating with the job on hand spread very quickly. He was reliable and he gave a personal oversight to all building entrusted to him. When most men felt perfectly free to claim their leisure after working hours, he was to be found in that office in Lombard Street until the small hours of the morning considering the work of the next day, so that by his careful consideration and calculation, he was able to undertake as his business extended, works running into six figures. Perhaps one of the most attractive things he did produce as a builder, was the re-building of the King Edward School in Birmingham.

Ald. Deacon was among those who recognised the claims and responsibilities of the citizens and from the moment he was urged to take on public life in the city as a member of the City Council, until the day of his death, he never failed to give of his very best in the service of the community in which he lived. Whatever he undertook, whether it was for public good or not, or in the many instances of private philanthropy, he was fervent in spirit. Of all the men he knew, Ald. Deacon was singularly modest and always conscious of God's claim upon him. He was indeed a God fearing man and in that Church he worshipped for the longest part of his stay in Lichfield. God grant to them an inspiration to follow him and that whatever they did they would do it as heartily as he did to the Glory of God.